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This time last year, Sarina Wiegman’s plans were in place ahead of the Euros. The Lionesses manager had settled upon a core of players during her first season in charge and her squad announcement for the tournament featured few surprises. Once the Euros began, Wiegman was able to name the same starting line-up for all six matches, as England won their first major international tournament in 56 years at Wembley. How the Lionesses could do with the same stability ahead of the World Cup. A year later, Wiegman will take England into a second major international tournament as one of the favourites, but with injuries and fitness concerns disrupting their preparations and forcing a rethink in some key areas of the team. Now the domestic club season is over, Wiegman will name her 23-player squad for the World Cup on Wednesday 31 May, with England’s opening game of the tournament against Haiti in Brisbane less than eight weeks away. Here are some of the biggest questions Wiegman has to answer as the England manager names her squad for Australia and New Zealand. Fitness concerns Injuries, injuries, injuries. England’s build-up to the World Cup has been dominated by one topic. Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby are out, that’s for sure, but there is less certainty elsewhere. It looks like the World Cup will be too soon for Beth Mead, the winner of the Golden Boot at last summer’s Euros. The Arsenal forward suffered an ACL injury in November and although Mead says her recovery is “ahead of schedule”, there are no guarantees that she will be ready for England’s opening game against Haiti on July 22. The date of England’s squad announcement, May 31, is early, which has given players like Mead less time to recover and Wiegman less time to assess her options. There is a chance that Wiegman takes a risk and selects Mead hoping she is available for the knock-out stages in August, but it would be a big ask for the 28-year-old to return at that stage of the tournament after such a long time out. Wiegman faces further questions over the fitness of Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze, two of her most experienced and trusted players. Bright has been out since March due to a knee injury while Bronze underwent keyhole surgery on her knee in late April. Both are expected to be fit, however. Replacing experience It’s not just Williamson and Kirby who England will miss at the World Cup. Injuries to the pair have highlighted the collective loss of experience in the squad from the Euros, with Ellen White and Jill Scott having retired following England’s victory that summer. Add in Williamson, Kirby and Mead, and that’s a total of 431 international caps that have been lost in 12 months - as well as four starters from England’s Euros-winning side. How Wiegman replaces that experience will be crucial to England’s chances in Australia. The 71-cap Jordan Nobbs has made a return to the international fold after her decision to join Aston Villa in January, but her lack of game time in recent England matches raises questions over whether Wiegman is truly convinced. There has even been talk of former England captain Steph Houghton making a return. The centre-back returned from injury to feature for Manchester City over the final weeks of the season and has not given up hope of a call-up. Has in-form England done enough? Rachel Daly was England’s left back as they won the Euros but is now leading the race to be their starting No 9 for the Euros. Daly won both the WSL player of the year and Golden Boot awards after hitting a stunning 22 goals for Aston Villa this season. She faces a battle with Alessia Russo, who has been Wiegman’s first choice since the Euros, to be England’s starting striker, but there are others who are pushing for the place as well. Among them, Bethany England could not have done more to get a World Cup place after scoring 12 goals in 12 games for Tottenham since leaving Chelsea in January. England was in the Euros squad but did not play a minute in the tournament and the striker has missed out on the last two England squads, with Brighton’s Katie Robinson instead receiving a call-up. England’s strongest position is in the wide attacking areas, with Lauren James, Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly competing for two spots in the starting line-up, so whoever is included will be expected to challenge Daly and Russo. Nikita Parris found form over the final few weeks of the season while Ebony Salmon made the first three squads post-Euros. Who starts instead of Williamson? The England captain’s injury means Wiegman will need to decide upon a new centre-back pair for the World Cup. Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood appear to be Wiegman’s first choice, but that requires moving Greenwood from left back and relies upon Bright’s fitness, so there could be a few places up for grabs. For a 23-player squad, Wiegman is likely to select eighth defenders. The Dutch coach tends to favour defenders who are capable of playing multiple positions, with Chelsea’s Jess Carter, Manchester United’s Maya La Tissier and Manchester City’s Esme Morgan adept in both centre-back and full-back areas. Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy, who was initially left out of April’s squad before replacing the injured Bright, is less versatile, but impressed for the Gunners over the final weeks of the season when Williamson was sidelined. Wubben-Moy was a key member of the Euros squad and was the driving force behind England’s legacy pledge, but her place in the World Cup group looks unclear. Much could depend on Bright’s fitness. Finding the balance and depth in midfield Keira Walsh is the cornerstone of England’s team but Wiegman is still searching for an ideal balance around her in midfield. Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone have been used as twin-eights but Australia found success when beating the Lionesses in April when they shut Walsh down, with England missing the creativity of a player like Fran Kirby to unlock the door. There may be matches in Australia when Wiegman may favour another midfielder to sit alongside Walsh - with one of Stanway or Toone asked to push forward into the No 10 areas that Kirby so often thrives in. Manchester United captain Katie Zelem and Manchester City’s Laura Coombs are contenders alongside Jordan Nobbs for the position, while Jess Park is seen as a wildcard option having made the last two squads. The 21-year-old is another fitness doubt, however, after she was ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Read More England’s World Cup squad: Who’s on the plane, and who’s got work to do? When is the Women’s World Cup and what are the fixtures? Making World Cup squad would be ‘stuff of dreams’, says Man City’s Laura Coombs Ella Toone upbeat on England’s chances at World Cup despite injury setbacks Predicting England’s World Cup squad: Who’s on the plane?

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has provided an update on Mason Greenwood’s future with the player still suspended by the club. The Dutch manager insists a decision over Greenwood’s return to the first team is not up to him, although the 53-year-old added that the player has proven quality in front of goal. United are currently carrying out an investigation over Greenwood’s future at Old Trafford after charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault were dropped in February this year following his initial arrest in January 2022. Asked about Greenwood’s future in an interview with the Times, Ten Hag commented on the 21-year-old’s ability on the pitch. “[Greenwood] showed in the past that he is capable of doing that [centre-forward role],” Ten Hag said. Ten Hag then emphasised it is not his decision whether Greenwood, who has scored 36 times in 130 appearances for the Red Devils, makes a return to the first team. It is the first mention of the player from the Dutch coach since February this year, when the 53-year-old simply replied: “I refer to the statement of the club.” Greenwood’s last appearance for the club came in a 1-0 victory over West Ham in January 2022. After signing a four-year extension in February 2021, the player remains under contract at Old Trafford until 2025. In a statement released after the charges against him were dropped, Greenwood said: “I am relieved that this matter is now over and I would like to thank my family, loved ones and friends for their support. There will be no further comment at this time.” Read More ‘He has a decision to make’: Erik ten Hag delivers stark message to Harry Maguire David De Gea says Manchester United are ready for one more ‘special’ battle Premier League 2022/23 season awards: Best player, manager, transfer flop and breakthrough act

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Edwin van der Sar has resigned from his position as chief executive at Ajax. The 52-year-old former Manchester United, Fulham and Netherlands goalkeeper, who started his playing career at Ajax, has been on the Eredivisie club’s board of directors since 2012. He was initially director of marketing, then became chief executive in 2016, and had been on a contract running to 2025. Van der Sar told the club’s official website: “After almost 11 years on the board, I am done. “We have experienced wonderful things together, but it has also been an incredibly tough period. I am very grateful for the people I have met and worked with during my second career at Ajax, and what we have achieved and been through together. “I feel the need to take some distance, to get some rest, and to do other things. It doesn’t feel good to take decisions about the future of this wonderful club in the coming period. That is why I have decided to resign.” Van der Sar will transfer his duties to the board from June 1, and it has been requested that he formally remains in his position until August 1. After almost 11 years on the board, I am done. I feel the need to take some distance, to get some rest, and to do other things Edwin van der Sar The announcement comes after a trophyless 2022-23 campaign for Ajax that saw them finish third in the Eredivisie. Prior to that, Van der Sar’s time as chief executive had included the club winning three league titles and two Dutch cups under now Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, as well as reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2018-19. Supervisory board chair Pier Eringa said: “We wanted Edwin to stay, but he had made his decision. We have to respect that. “The last season does not reflect the entire period that he has been in charge of Ajax. The club has seen a lot of success, has seen a lot of growth, and gained international exposure. “His tasks will be transferred to the remaining members of the board. Edwin will be available for the transfer and advise until August. We expect to announce a new board of directors after August 1. It’s our ambition to add someone to the board with an Ajax background.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Chelsea appoint Chris Jurasek as chief exec with Tom Glick also leaving his role A look at the numbers behind England’s opening partnerships Football rumours: Spurs aim to keep reported Manchester United target Harry Kane

Chelsea have announced the appointment of Chris Jurasek as their new chief executive while president of business Tom Glick is set to leave after less than a year in his role. The Blues’ 12th-place Premier League finish in owners’ the Clearlake group’s first season has led to Mauricio Pochettino being named head coach and tasked with improving their on-field fortunes. Further upheaval off the pitch came with the announcement that Jurasek will oversee all business areas at Chelsea and report to the board alongside co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley. “I’m delighted to be joining Chelsea, a club which is loved and followed all over the world,” Jurasek said. “I’m enormously proud to be leading it into the next chapter in its rich history. “We have huge opportunities to grow on and off the pitch and to engage our exceptional fans both in London and wherever they are supporting us from.” Behdad Eghbali and Jose E Feliciano, co-controlling owners, said: “Chris’ skill and expertise will help us to drive the club forward in all areas, particularly in supporting our long-term plans for Chelsea. “Our focus will continue to be on ensuring the club is competitive and sustainable both from a sporting and business perspective, with a talented and ambitious leadership team.” Former Manchester City executive Glick will be exiting the club, having only been appointed last July – although no departure date was announced by the club, who said the former president of NFL franchise the Carolina Panthers wanted “to pursue other opportunities”. Glick will work closely with Jurasek in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition before leaving. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

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